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Giovanni Monti & Partners (GM&P)

GM&P’s ownership and sibling companies enable it to engineer, design and provide glazing for many of Miami’s most notable projects. By Jim Harris

During its first five years in business, Giovanni Monti & Partners (GM&P) grew from $400,000 to $150 million in revenue. “We were in the right place at the right time and had the right people behind us,” founder Giovanni Monti says of the accomplishment.

Monti founded the Miami-based glazing contractor in 2011. He had an already strong relationship with Jose and Christian Daes, owners of Tecnoglass, a supplier of architectural glass, windows and associated aluminum products used in GM&P’s projects. “Jose and Christian helped me grow the company by giving me the possibility to access to almost unlimited production capability and an engineering team that could support me in the design of new product to distinguish us for the competition,” Monti says. “We were able to compete from day one.”

The relationship between Monti and Tecnoglass began prior to 2011, when Monti worked as COO for Glasswall LLC, a glazing contractor in Miami that was one of Tecnoglass’ largest competitors.

“There was always the potential for us to work together,” Monti says. “I knew a lot of people in the Miami area and had relationships with installers and suppliers. When the market started booming again, we were able to get jobs left and right.”

Monti sold GM&P to Tecnoglass in 2017, shortly after hitting the $150 million revenue mark. Being part of the Tecnoglass corporate family gives GM&P access not only to glass and windows, but also to products and services provided by other Tecnoglass divisions. Tecnoglass also gives GM&P an almost unlimited bonding capability.

GM&P partners with sibling companies ESWINDOWS, Alutions and Energia Solar to provide glass, extrusions, curtainwall manufacturing and painting services. GM&P installs, engineers and designs glazing projects for large commercial buildings. Most of the company’s projects are in or near Miami, though it has also completed jobs in Texas, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and the Bahamas.

“We can now give our clients a one-stop shop from design to warranty,” Monti says. “We can complete the entire supplier chain all under one umbrella and all under one warranty. There is no finger pointing on site if something will not go as planned.”

Engineering Services

In addition to design/build services, GM&P provides consulting services to architects. “This process has proven to be effective in mitigating the risks posed by unique and complex design requirements, and the use of emergent materials and specialized technology,” the company says. “With this process, requests for information and changes are characteristically dramatically reduced.”

The company spends more than $1 million annually testing new products. “We can design anything an architect in this market might want. With the power of Tecnoglass behind us producing everything we need, we can do things other contractors can’t do,” Monti says.

One of the company’s recent achievements is designing a 40-foot tall façade made entirely of glass that can be used in lobbies, amenity decks and penthouses. “This is a symbol of pioneering techniques that exemplify state-of-the-art engineering of a point supported glass wall system,” the company says. “The wall has a structural glass mullion that enables, architects, designers and developers to freely create visually appealing, open-feeling spaces without obstructions.”

GM&P recently started using a specialty glazing that can withstand hurricane-force winds. The company also works with designers and building teams to insure that building skins are optimized for LEED considerations, it notes.

Recent Projects

GM&P is the glazing contractor for the Paramount Miami Worldcenter, a 60-story condo tower projected for completion early next year. The tower is the first portion of Miami Worldcenter, a 27-acre mixed-use development that includes 500 total residential units as well as a retail component. Tishman Construction is the contractor on the project.

GM&P’s other recent projects include Eighty Seven Park, an ultra-luxury boutique condominium tower in Miami Beach designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. The 18-story, 70-unit property includes two oceanfront pools, a private garden, and a library and wine bar. The contractor is John Moriarty and Associates. The tower is slated for completion this year.

GM&P earlier this year finished work on Auberge Beach Residences and Spa, a condominium project in Fort Lauderdale consisting of a 17-story and a 20-story tower. The contractor is Facchina Construction of Florida.

A Starting Point

The company continues to expand into new markets. GM&P this year plans to open new offices in Tampa and Washington, D.C., to manage projects in both cities. The company is also seeking new opportunities to diversity its offering, including partnering with composite metal panel producers and specialty metal companies.

“We think $150 million is just a starting point,” Monti says. “By opening new offices, we feel we can achieve revenues of $250 million in the next few years.”